The chapter lists the descendants of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, east of the Jordan. They are defeated because they were unfaithful to God, and carried into exile by the king of Assyria.
1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel ,(for he was the firstborn ; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed , his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel : and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright .
2 For Judah prevailed above his brethren , and of him came the chief ruler ; but the birthright was Joseph's :)
3 The sons , I say, of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were, Hanoch , and Pallu , Hezron , and Carmi .
4 The sons of Joel ; Shemaiah his son , Gog his son , Shimei his son ,
5 Micah his son , Reaia his son , Baal his son ,
6 Beerah his son , whom Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites .
7 And his brethren by their families , when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned , were the chief , Jeiel , and Zechariah ,
8 And Bela the son of Azaz , the son of Shema , the son of Joel , who dwelt in Aroer , even unto Nebo and Baalmeon :
9 And eastward he inhabited unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates : because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead .
10 And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites , who fell by their hand : and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead .
11 And the children of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salchah :
12 Joel the chief , and Shapham the next , and Jaanai , and Shaphat in Bashan .
13 And their brethren of the house of their fathers were, Michael , and Meshullam , and Sheba , and Jorai , and Jachan , and Zia , and Heber , seven .
14 These are the children of Abihail the son of Huri , the son of Jaroah , the son of Gilead , the son of Michael , the son of Jeshishai , the son of Jahdo , the son of Buz ;
15 Ahi the son of Abdiel , the son of Guni , chief of the house of their fathers .
16 And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan , and in her towns , and in all the suburbs of Sharon , upon their borders .
17 All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah , and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel .
18 The sons of Reuben , and the Gadites , and half the tribe of Manasseh , of valiant men , men able to bear buckler and sword , and to shoot with bow , and skilful in war , were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore , that went out to the war .
19 And they made war with the Hagarites , with Jetur , and Nephish , and Nodab .
20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand , and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle , and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.
21 And they took away their cattle ; of their camels fifty thousand , and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand , and of asses two thousand , and of men an hundred thousand .
22 For there fell down many slain , because the war was of God . And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity .
23 And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land : they increased from Bashan unto Baalhermon and Senir , and unto mount Hermon .
24 And these were the heads of the house of their fathers , even Epher , and Ishi , and Eliel , and Azriel , and Jeremiah , and Hodaviah , and Jahdiel , mighty men of valour , famous men , and heads of the house of their fathers .
25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers , and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land , whom God destroyed before them.
26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria , and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria , and he carried them away , even the Reubenites , and the Gadites , and the half tribe of Manasseh , and brought them unto Halah , and Habor , and Hara , and to the river Gozan , unto this day .